Sleeve apparatus for a gaming coin bucket

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for use with a coin bucket is disclosed and includes a string and a flexible body defining a tubular sleeve. The sleeve can be manipulated so as to define a passage having an inlet and an outlet and which is shaped and dimensioned to permit travel of the bucket, bottom-first, through the inlet to an operative position whereat the top of the bucket is disposed within the passage, spaced from the inlet. A channel is formed in the sleeve which encircles the bucket when same is disposed at the operative position, and at least one opening is formed on the sleeve exterior leading into the channel. The string is positioned within the channel with its ends each emerging from the at least one opening so that same can be drawn to form, in the passage, a constriction which grips around and retains the bucket at the operative position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to gaming accessories, andparticularly, to a sleeve apparatus for use in combination with a coinbucket of the type typically provided to patrons of gamingestablishments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Slot machine gaming is an increasingly popular leisure activity.In such activity, patrons of gaming establishments typically handlerelatively large quantities of coinage. In order to improve the gamingexperience, many gaming establishments provide patrons with coin bucketsHowever, while these buckets provide for adequate containment ofcoinage, the gaming experience can still be improved. For one thing, thebuckets, when filled, can be heavy, and fairly difficult to transport,particularly for seniors. Additionally, when collecting payouts, thepatron is typically required to repeatedly withdraw coinage from thecoin tray provided on the unit. This is not only unhygienic, but canalso lead to the possibility of bruised knuckles and soiled hands and/orgarments, and loss of coins through mishandling and then eithermisplacement or theft.

[0003] Accessories for facilitating transport of coin buckets arewell-known. Such accessories typically include a body portion whichforms an upwardly-opening pocket adapted to receive a coin bucket of theaforementioned type, as well as a strap or straps which may be slungover the shoulder of a user to support the body portion of the accessoryand any coin bucket received therewithin. U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,497(Pelish), issued Nov. 17, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,220(Glass), issuedOct. 27, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,761(Luque), issued Dec. 4, 1990; andU.S. Design Pat. No. 432,785 (Berg et al.), issued Oct. 31, 2000, areexemplary in this regard.

[0004] However, no prior art devices are known which ameliorate theabove-noted problems caused by the need to repeatedly withdraw coinsfrom the coin tray, with the exception of gloves, which areinconvenient, to the extent that they render it difficult to manipulatecoinage both during play, that is, while inserting coins into the slotmachine, and during the collection of coins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention there is disclosed asleeve apparatus for use with a gaming coin bucket.

[0006] As one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises aflexible main body portion defining a tubular sleeve. The tubular sleevehas a top and a bottom, and is manipulable into an operativeconfiguration wherein it defines a passage having a passage inletlocated at the top of the sleeve and a passage outlet located at thebottom of the sleeve. The passage is shaped and dimensioned to permittravel of the bucket, bottom-first, into the passage through the passageinlet to an operative position whereat the top of the bucket ispositioned within the passage in spaced relation to the top of thesleeve and the bottom of the bucket is positioned adjacent the passageoutlet. The apparatus further comprises cinching means for selectively,releasably configuring said sleeve to form a constriction in the passageadjacent the passage outlet, the constriction being shaped anddimensioned to grip around the bucket between its top and bottom so asto retain same at the operative position.

[0007] According to other aspects of the invention, the passage ispreferably shaped and dimensioned to permit travel of the bucket fromthe operative position, top-first, through the passage inlet, and fromthe operative position, bottom-first, through the passage outlet.

[0008] As another aspect of the invention, the passage is preferablyshaped and dimensioned to permit travel of the bucket, top-first, intothe passage through the passage outlet to the operative position.

[0009] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the presentinvention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description and the appended claims with reference tothe accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly describedhereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sleeve apparatus according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gaming coin bucket of the priorart.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gaming coin bucket of FIG. 2about to be inserted, bottom-first, into the sleeve apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the gaming coin bucketdisposed at an operative position within the sleeve apparatus.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, with the sleeve apparatusconfigured to retain the gaming coin bucket at the operative position.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the fingers of a userinserted into finger slots provided in the sleeve apparatus.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sleeve apparatus of FIG. 1,with portions cut away for clarity.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sleeve apparatus of FIG. 1,shown with the bottom closed.

[0019]FIG. 10 is a view of the sleeve apparatus of FIG. 9, with thefingers of a user inserted into the finger slots.

[0020]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an interior portion of the sleeveapparatus of FIG. 1, with the balance of the sleeve apparatus and agaming coin bucket shown in phantom outline.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a sleeve apparatusaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated and designated with general reference numeral 20.

[0022] As will be more fully described in the following paragraphs, theapparatus 20 is for use with a gaming coin bucket of the type oftendistributed by casinos and other gaming establishments and exemplifiedby the coin bucket illustrated in FIG. 2 and designated with generalreference numeral 22. It will be expressly understood that the bucket 22is prior art, and does not form part of the present invention.

[0023] The apparatus 20 includes a flexible main body portion 24, formedof fabric and defining a tubular sleeve 26. The sleeve 26 has a top 28and a bottom 30, and is manipulable into an operative configuration,shown in FIG. 3, wherein it defines a passage 32 having a passage inlet34 located at the top 28 of the sleeve 26 as well as a passage outlet 36located at the bottom 30 of the sleeve 26 The sleeve 26 comprises aband, bounded in dotted outline and designated with general referencenumeral 38 in FIG. 3, that divides the sleeve 26 into a tubular inletportion 40 which includes the passage inlet 34 and a tubular outletportion 42 which includes the passage outlet 36.

[0024] The passage 32 is shaped and dimensioned to permit travel of thebucket 22, bottom-first, into the passage 32 through the passage inlet34, as indicated by the direction of arrow 44 in FIG. 4, to an operativeposition, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0025] At the operative position, the top of the bucket 22 (shown inphantom outline in FIG. 5) is positioned within the passage 32 in spacedrelation to the top 28 of the sleeve 26, between the band 38 and thepassage outlet 36, and the bottom of the bucket 22 is positionedexteriorly of the sleeve 26, adjacent the passage outlet 36.

[0026] The apparatus 20 additionally comprises cinching means,designated with general reference numeral 46 in FIG. 3 and discussedmore fully in following paragraphs, for selectively, releasablyconfiguring said sleeve 26 to form a constriction in the passage 32adjacent the passage outlet 36. The constriction is designated bygeneral reference numeral 48 in FIG. 6, and is shaped and dimensioned togrip around the bucket 22 between its top and bottom so as to retainsame at the operative position, as indicated in FIG. 6.

[0027] It will be evident that these features alone provide a usefulstructure, to the extent that, with a coin bucket 22 located at theoperative position and retained thereat by the cinching means 46, thesleeve 26 can be held by a user at the base of a slot machine (notshown), to permit coins to slide down through the passage 32 and intothe coin bucket 22, as indicated by FIG. 7.

[0028] It will similarly be evident that, as desired, the cinching means46 may be selectively released, to permit travel of the bucket 22 fromthe operative position, top-first, through the passage inlet 34,whereupon the apparatus 20, being formed of flexible material may berolled up (not shown) and conveniently stored, for example, in a purseor a pocket.

[0029] However, additional features are also provided in the preferredembodiment illustrated.

[0030] As one such feature, the passage 32 is shaped and dimensioned topermit travel of the bucket 22 from the operative position,bottom-first, through the passage outlet 36, so as to facilitate removalof the bucket 22 from within the sleeve 26.

[0031] As another feature, the passage 32 is shaped and dimensioned topermit travel of the bucket 22, top-first, into the passage 32 throughthe passage outlet 36 to the operative position.

[0032] As further features, and as illustrated in FIG. 8, the apparatus20 includes a tubular clasp 50, and the cinching means 46 comprises adrawstring 52. The drawstring 52 is positioned within a channel 54formed in the sleeve 26 which is arranged to encircle the bucket 22 whensame is disposed at the operative position, and has a first drawstringend 56 and a second drawstring end 58, which each emerge from an opening60 formed on the exterior of the sleeve 26 that leads into thedrawstring channel 54.

[0033] The clasp 50 is provided as a coupling means for selectively,releasably connecting a segment of the first drawstring end 56 to asegment of the second drawstring end 58, and for this purpose, isarranged with the first drawstring end 56 and the second drawstring end58 extending therethrough. The construction of such clasps 50 iswell-known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, and accordingly, isnot detailed herein.

[0034] In any event, with the cinching means 46 so structured, part ofthe drawstring 52 can be withdrawn from the channel 54 by the firstdrawstring end 56 and the second drawstring end 58 so as to selectively,releasably configure the sleeve 26 to form a constriction 48 in thepassage 32 as aforedescribed, whereupon the clasp 50 may be engaged uponthe segments of the first drawstring end 56 and the second drawstringend 58 immediately exterior to the opening 60 in the sleeve 26, tomaintain the constriction 48. As well, as indicated in FIG. 9, thedrawstring 52 can be further withdrawn from the drawstring channel 54,so as to selectively, releasably configure the sleeve 26 to form ablockage 62 in the bottom 30, whereupon the clasp 50 can again beoperatively coupled to the segments of the first drawstring end 56 andthe second drawstring end 58 disposed immediately exteriorly of theopening 60, thereby to form a coin collection bag, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0035] The coin collection bag can be held at the base of the slotmachine in a manner similar to that described previously to collectcoins, as indicated by FIG. 10, or actually be placed in the tray of theslot machine to collect coins (not shown).

[0036] As a yet further feature, best illustrated in FIG. 8, the mainbody member 24 forms finger slots 64 adjacent the top 28 of the sleeve26. The finger slots 64 define openings oriented towards the bottom 28of the sleeve 26, to facilitate manipulation of the top 38 of the sleeveapparatus 26, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10.

[0037] As a yet further feature, the sleeve 26 further comprises aflexible ancillary body portion 66, illustrated in FIG. 11, that definesa tubular chute 68 having a top 70 and a bottom 72 and includes atubular rim portion 74 at the top 70. Rim portion 74 is connected aboutits external periphery to the internal periphery of the band 38,although for clarity, in FIG. 11, all portions of the sleeve apparatus20 other than the ancillary body portion 66, as well as the bucket 22are shown in phantom outline. The chute 68 is manipulable into anoperative configuration wherein it defines a coin conduit 76 having aconduit inlet 78 located at the top 70 of the chute 68 and bounded bythe rim 74, and a conduit outlet 80 located at the bottom 72 of thechute 68.

[0038] The conduit outlet 80 is disposed within the bucket 22 when saidbucket 22 is at the operative position, thereby to direct coins onlyinto the bucket 22 during use. As well, the conduit 76 is shaped anddimensioned to permit travel of the bucket 22, bottom-first, into theconduit inlet 78, through the conduit 76 and out the conduit outlet 80,so as to facilitate removal of the bucket 22 from the sleeve apparatus20. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the ancillary body portion66, the tubular inlet portion 40 and the tubular outlet portion 42 areformed integrally, from a single flexible tubular member (not shown),with the tubular inlet portion 40 and the tubular outlet portion 42being spaced apart by an intermediate tubular portion (not shown). Inmanufacture, the tubular inlet portion 40 and the tubular outlet portion42 are drawn together and stitched, such that band 38 is defined by thestitched-together portions, and ancillary body portion 66 is constructedof overlapped layers of the intermediate tubular portion 24 of main bodyportion 24.

[0039] As a yet further feature, a key ring 82 is preferably provided atthe top 28 of the sleeve 26, as shown in FIG. 8 and in FIG. 9.

[0040] Various modifications and alterations may be used in the designand manufacture of the sleeve apparatus according to the presentinvention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0041] For example, whereas in the preferred embodiment illustrated, thepassage is shaped and dimensioned to permit travel of the bucket,bottom-first, into the passage through the passage inlet, to theoperative position; from the operative position, bottom-first, throughthe passage outlet; from the operative position, top-first, through thepassage inlet; and, top-first, into the passage through the passageoutlet to the operative position, it is possible to construct theinvention such that ingress and egress of the bucket occurs only throughthe passage outlet. Additionally, whereas in the preferred embodimentillustrated the bottom of the bucket is positioned exteriorly of thesleeve when operatively positioned, it is equally possible that thebucket could be entirely disposed within the sleeve at the operativeposition. As well, whereas in the preferred embodiment a tubular claspis provided, and the first drawstring end and the second drawstring endemerge from a single opening, it is of course possible to construct theinvention with each drawstring end emerging from a separate opening,whereupon the tubular clasp could be readily omitted, and the endssimply tied together, in the manner of shoelaces, for example. Also,whereas the finger slots, the drawstring channel and the ancillary bodyportion are formed in the preferred embodiment illustrated byfolded-over portions of the main body member, suitably stitchedtogether, it will be evident that separate pieces of flexible materialcould equally be provided, and attached to the main body portion. Assuch, it will be evident that the scope of the invention is limited onlyby the accompanying claims, purposively construed.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An apparatus for usewith a gaming coin bucket, said apparatus comprising: a flexible mainbody portion defining a tubular sleeve having a top and a bottom, thetubular sleeve being manipulable into an operative configuration whereinit defines a passage having a passage inlet located at the top of thesleeve and a passage outlet located at the bottom of the sleeve, thepassage being shaped and dimensioned to permit travel of the bucket,bottom-first, into the passage through the passage inlet to an operativeposition whereat the top of the bucket is positioned within the passagein spaced relation to the top of the sleeve and the bottom of the bucketis positioned adjacent the passage outlet; and cinching means forselectively, releasably configuring said sleeve to form a constrictionin said passage adjacent the passage outlet, said constriction beingshaped and dimensioned to grip around the bucket between its top andbottom so as to retain same at the operative position.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the passage is shaped and dimensioned topermit travel of the bucket from the operative position, top-first,through the passage inlet.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe passage is shaped and dimensioned to permit travel of the bucketfrom the operative position, bottom-first, through the passage outlet.4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the passage is shaped anddimensioned to permit travel of the bucket from the operative position,bottom-first, through the passage outlet.
 5. Apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the passage is shaped and dimensioned to permit travelof the bucket, top-first, into the passage through the passage outlet tothe operative position.
 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to5, wherein the cinching means comprises: a drawstring channel formed inthe sleeve and arranged to encircle the bucket when same is disposed atthe operative position; at least one opening formed on the exterior ofthe sleeve leading into the drawstring channel; a drawstring positionedwithin the channel and having a first drawstring end and a seconddrawstring end each emerging from said at least one opening. 7.Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising coupling means forselectively, releasably connecting a segment of the first drawstring endto a segment of the second drawstring end.
 8. Apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein the coupling means comprises a tubular clasp throughwhich the first drawstring end and the second drawstring end eachextend.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said at least oneopening is a single opening.
 10. Apparatus according to any one ofclaims 1 to 5, wherein the bottom of the bucket is disposed exteriorlyof the sleeve when the bucket is at the operative position. 11.Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cinchingmeans is further adapted to selectively, releasably configure saidsleeve to form a blockage in said passage adjacent the bottom of thesleeve.
 12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein thesleeve comprises a band that divides the tubular sleeve into a inletportion which includes the passage inlet and an outlet portion whichincludes the passage outlet, the top of the bucket being located betweenthe band portion and the passage outlet when the bucket is at theoperative configuration.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, furthercomprising: a flexible ancillary body portion that defines a tubularchute having a top and a bottom, the chute including a tubular rimportion at the top thereof which is connected about its externalperiphery to the internal periphery of the band, the chute beingmanipulable into an operative configuration wherein it defines a coinconduit having a conduit inlet located at the top of the chute andbounded by the rim, and a conduit outlet located at the bottom of thechute and disposed within the bucket when said bucket is at theoperative position, the chute being shaped and dimensioned to permittravel of the bucket, bottom-first, into the conduit inlet, through theconduit and out the conduit outlet.
 14. Apparatus according to any oneof claims 1 to 5, wherein the main body member defines finger slotsadjacent the top of the sleeve which define openings oriented towardsthe bottom of the sleeve.
 15. An apparatus for use with a gaming coinbucket, said apparatus comprising: a flexible main body portion defininga tubular sleeve having a top and a bottom, the tubular sleeve beingmanipulable into an operative configuration wherein it defines a passagehaving a passage inlet located at the top of the sleeve and a passageoutlet located at the bottom of the sleeve, the passage being shaped anddimensioned to permit travel of the bucket top-first, into the passagethrough the passage outlet to an operative position whereat the top ofthe bucket is positioned within the passage in spaced relation to thetop of the sleeve and the bottom of the bucket is positioned adjacentthe passage outlet; and from the operative position, bottom-first,through the passage outlet; and cinching means for selectively,releasably configuring said sleeve to form a constriction in saidpassage adjacent the passage outlet, said constriction being shaped anddimensioned to grip around the bucket between its top and bottom so asto retain same at the operative position.